Great Gift
Homily on the Sol. Feast of Mary, Mother of God, 1 Jan 2026, Divine Mercy Chapel, Estancia
Kung tatanawin natin muli ang lahat ng nangyari sa 2025 siguradong mapapabuntong hininga tayo at magsasabing “Ay salamat sa Diyos at nakaraos din.” Sa dami ng mga paghamon na ating hinarap, mga pagkakasalang atin nang pinagsisisihan, mga sakit at paghihirap na ating tiniis at pinagdaanan, at mga problemang di akalaing malalampasan, sa dakilang awa ng Panginoon eto po tayo ngayon at buhay pa rin, lumalaban pa rin, at pinagpapala pa rin ng Poong Maykapal.
I invite you to close your eyes, and just try to recall the greatest trial you were able to surpass last 2025… just keep closing your eyes, and if you have recalled at least one, please raise one hand, and if you have recalled two or more, please raise both hands. Keep your hands up, and now open your eyes and look around you. I guess you were able to overcome all your trials, not because you were strong and good, but because God was so strong and so good. Do you agree with me? Say Yeah!
Yes! I’m sure despite our many trials and failures, we have also done a lot of good, we have achieved some of our goals, fulfilled our resolutions, experienced successes and learned many lessons. Though it was hard to please everyone, we have met old friends, made new ones and strengthened family bonds and existing relationships.
Above all despite our weaknesses and sinfulness, during the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025, we have come closer to God, and experienced HIS amazing love. We have deepened our spirituality, and advanced in maturity. I’m sure many of you have become better persons, perhaps much better than last year. Thanks to the gift of our Catholic FAITH, ang pananampalatayang Katoliko na ating tinanggap higit na limang-daan at limang taon nang nakaraan. By this living faith we are able to see the invisible hand of God powerfully guiding us and enabling us to overcome all the trials in our life, one by one. And because of this faith we also have the hope that despite the bad days, better days are yet to come.
And this is precisely why we keep coming to Mass. We want to thank our Lord Jesus Christ, who was born for us not only once in Bethlehem, but here and now every Christmas and every time we celebrate the Holy Mass. Christ is the GIFT, the greatest of all God’s gifts. Siya ang pinakadakilang handog ng Diyos sa mundong ito. Ang kanyang pagsilang ang siyang ating kaligtasan at tanging pag-asa sa mga nakaraang taon at sa habang panahon.
Ngayon naman po, habang ikinatutuwa pa rin nating pagmasdan ang marikit na Sanggol na isinilang sa sabsaban, tinatanaw din natin ang Mahal na Birhen na si Maria, ang kanyang Inang minamahal. Today we honor Mary in a very special way because through her courageous and generous YES to God’s call, the world’s promised Savior was born and dwelt amongst us. Therefore, for us Catholics aside from Jesus, also Mary is a great GIFT and a big blessing to the whole world. She has the singular privilege of being the mother not only of the human Jesus but also of the divine Jesus – in Jesus there is only one person with a human and divine nature. And so, since Jesus is fully a man and fully a God, we Catholics call Mary not only as Mother of Christ but also as Mother of God.
Eh ano ngayon kung siya ay Ina ng Diyos? Naku… ang laking bagay po nuon! Ibig sabihin, si Maria ay makapangyarihan din; may kapangyarihan siya na hindi nanggagaling sa kanyang sarili kundi ipinagkaloob sa kanya ng Diyos, bilang Ina ng Tagapagligtas. It means that if Mary became instrumental for the birth of the promised Savior two thousand and twenty-five years ago, today she can still be instrumental for the birth of the Savior and Prince of Peace in our own hearts, and in the hearts of people who feel they are still slaves of sin, of people who are still sick and suffering, of people who are in crisis, in conflict or at war against each other,… of people like us, who are asking earnestly for God’s blessings at the beginning of this New Year 2026.
Ito ang tanging dahilan kung bakit tayo ay hindi lamang nagpaparangal sa kanya ngayon, kundi tayo rin ay dumudulog sa kanya upang sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga pnanalangin sa harap ng trono ng kanyang Anak na si Kristo, tayo ay mabiyayaan at pagpalain ng maraming grasya, kagalingan sa ating mga sakit, kapatawaran sa ating mga sala at kabanalan sa ating buhay Kristiyano.
Last midnight during the countdown I was with my family watching the fireworks display all around the area. While marveling at the beautiful fireworks that were meant not only to welcome the New Year, but some say also to ward off the evil spirits, I realized one thing: that without God’s mighty hand blessing the entire world and protecting us from evil, all the money spent for this spectacular show would simply light up the sky and then quickly turn into smoke, dust and ashes and then is gone. Kung hindi dahil sa walang hanggang awa ng Panginoong Diyos, wala po talagang talab at wala po talagang kabuluhan ang libu-libong perang ginastos para lang sa mga paputok na akala natin ay makapagpapalayas ng masasamang espiritu sa mundong ito. After all, what are fireworks without God’s work?
Subukan nyo pong bumisita sa ER ng mga ospital buong magdamag ng New Year at makikita ninyong napakaraming taong pinagagamot dahil naputukan at naputulan ng mga daliri o ng buong kamay. Sa totoo lang, the best and safest way to welcome the New Year and the most powerful way to overcome the evil one is none other than prayer – lifting up a faith-filled prayer to God. Ang pinakamabisang paraan ng pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon ay ang pag-aalay ng isang taos-pusong panalangin sa Poong Maykapal. And this is precisely what we are gathered here for in this quiet and beautiful chapel – to offer to God a wholehearted sacrifice of praise, thanksgiving and petition through our participation in the Holy Mass. For this is what our faith is telling us to do. This Holy Mass is not really our own doing, it is precisely God super-powerfully at work in saving and blessing the world.
On this eighth day of Christmas, while our focus is still on Jesus, Mary is presented to us as the Mother of God, worthy of our respect, gratitude and veneration. The gospel story we have just heard presents to us the shepherds going in haste to Bethlehem where they found Mary and Joseph and the infant lying in a manger. Having given birth to Jesus, the Savior of the world, Mary is now venerated as the most powerful Mother in the world with the corresponding title “Mother of God”. And yet the most inspiring words from the gospel passage we heard today from St Luke are the following, “Mary… pondered everything in her heart.”
Today through the powerful intercession of our Blessed Mother, we too can look forward to many more blessings this new year – the most important of which is the many births of Jesus in our lives and in the lives of people who still need a Savior. Jesus is the only blessing we really need. Jesus is the only Savior the world really needs, for He is the greatest blessing coming straight from the heart of God. And so, even if we have to face another series of trials and tragedies this 2026, we will certainly not be knocked out. We will surely overcome, for we know we have a God who is enormously much bigger than all the problems we have to face.
May our participation in this Eucharist draw upon us all the blessings of the holy Child born; and may St. Joseph and Mama Mary be our models in bringing Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to every heart longing for a Savior. GiGsss!
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